Stafford County Pipe Bomber Caught in Montana After Explosive Pursuit

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (CBSDC) – A man suspected in a string of pipe bombings carried out in Stafford County and Fredericksburg earlier in the week was arrested Thursday in Montana.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives says Laurence Alan Stewart II, 25, is accused of setting off explosives at the homes of an ex-girlfriend, a Stafford County Sherriff’s deputy and one other law enforcement official on Tuesday.

Officials confirmed Stewart has been captured and charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer.

Police in Montana attempted to stop him and a pursuit ensued, which resulted in a multiple pipe bombs being thrown at the pursuing officers.

Police disabled his vehicle, at which point Stewart abandoned his car and ran on foot, armed with a handgun. Shortly afterward he was apprehended.

According to police the pipe bombs thrown at them did explode but there were no injuries.

Prior to the explosions Tuesday, Stewart was reported to have exposed himself to two people at a shopping center in July and August. The two officers who were targets of the Tuesday attacks were investigators handling the indecent exposure case.